Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has been formally charged with three breaches of FA regulations for his part in the Spygate scandal.
The Saints were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after admitting to charges of spying on Middlesbrough ahead of their semi-final tie, which Southampton won 1-0, and ahead of regular-season games against Ipswich Town and Oxford United.
In addition to being kicked out of the play-off final against Hull City, Southampton were handed a four-point deduction for this coming season.
The club appealed, alleging the punishment was “manifestly disproportionate”. However, that claim was dismissed by an arbitration panel.
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Eckert key to Spygate scandal
Eckert was the central figure in the drama and had previously showed his frustration when discussing it, storming out of his post-match news conference following the second leg against Middlesbrough when asked if he was a cheat.
The German, who oversaw a remarkable upturn in Saints’ form after replacing Will Still in November, authorised the spying in what was described by an independent disciplinary commission as “a contrived and determined plan from the top down”.
Southampton have ruled out sacking him but the 33-year-old is likely to face a severe sanction, which may include a touchline ban.
An FA statement today read: “Southampton FC’s Tonda Eckert has been charged with three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 in relation to misconduct between December 2025 and May 2026.
“It’s alleged that the head coach acted in an improper manner and/or brought the game into disrepute by directing and/or authorising the observation of training sessions of Oxford United FC, Ipswich Town FC and Middlesbrough FC ahead of fixtures between these clubs and Southampton FC in December 2025, April 2026 and May 2026 respectively.
“Tonda Eckert has until Tuesday 28 July 2026 to provide his responses.”
Eckert apologises for spying on opposition
Eckert said sorry for his actions in an emotional social media post in June.
Speaking to the club’s social media channels, he said: “What I’m going to say is not going to be perfect, but I will try to be as honest and clear as I can be.
“I think you deserve that. For everything that’s happened, I do want to apologise, and I hold my hand up because as a head coach, I am responsible.
“I am responsible for everything that has happened in this football club. I am responsible for everything that has happened in my coaching staff.
“I do apologise to the supporters, to everyone who has travelled with us, who has supported us over so many games.
“To the ones who have shared emotions game by game, who have managed to bring us all the way up to this very end of the season.
“We were supposed to play the biggest game of the season. I apologise to the players, who have done absolutely everything that they can.
“They have done absolutely everything in the last six months to bring this club back to where it belongs. They would have deserved to play the final.
“I apologise to all of the clubs that have been involved, and mostly I apologise to our supporters.”
Southampton owner Solak to stick with Eckert
Eckert will see Southampton’s fans over the next few weeks when they play pre-season games, although he is unlikely to be offered a warm reception, after club owner Dragan Solak said he would stand by the embattled 33-year-old.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the Serb said: “I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him. My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he’s a super-talented manager.
“I believe Tonda that he didn’t know that it was the rule that he was breaking.
“My personal opinion, and the opinion of the board, is that he is a manager who deserves to be backed by us and to be supported by us. I will obviously seek advice from the team. I will seek advice from the players, from the fans. But yes, if it’s ultimately my decision, he stays.”
Solak hopes Eckert will learn from his mistake and there will be no repeat.
He added: “I told him: ‘You almost broke my heart. You do it again, you’ll kill me. The next time I see you in July, if you don’t know the EFL book of rules by heart, you can’t work for me. Because, we can’t have another mistake.’
“I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career.”
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